Post by Monika on Jun 24, 2023 19:20:50 GMT -8
Fighters 45, Panthers 38
6/24/23 --
FRISCO, TX - Second half defense was the name of the game as the Frisco Fighters held the Bay Area Panthers to just seven points in the second half en route to a 45-38 win tonight over the visiting Panthers at the Comercia Center.
With the win, the Fighters move to a league-best 11-2 and remain in first place in the Eastern Conference. It also ensures they will host a first-round playoff game. They are 1.5 games ahead of second-place Massachusetts Pirates in the conference standings, so it will take at least another week or two before the top seed is officially determined.
Bay Area, which was tied with the Arizona Rattlers atop the Western Conference, fell to 8-5 on the season and await the result of the Rattler's game tonight against the San Diego Strike Force. That game was in progress at the time of this writing. The Panthers won the first meeting between the teams, 62-55, at San Jose, California. The overall series between the Panthers and Fighters is tied 1-1 with both teams wining once at home.
Panthers linebacker Wes Bowers recovered a T.J. Edwards fumble and returned it 10 yards to for a Bay Area touchdown on Frisco's opening drive. The Fighters answered instantly as Charles Headon took the ensuing kickoff 58 yards to even up the game with 11:21 remaining in the opening quarter. Felix Harper, getting the start for Dalton Sneed, hit JT Stokes in the right side of the end zone to give the Panthers a 13-7 lead midway through the quarter. The Fighters took their first lead of the game on Martez Carter's three-yard scoring run up the middle. Harper found Stokes over the middle for another Bay Area score; this of 22 yards. The Panthers led 19-14 at the end of one.
Frisco took a two-point lead six minutes into the second quarter when Edwards found Jordan Jolly for a two-yard touchdown around the right side. The Panthers scored immediately on Harper's 11-yard strike across the middle to Nih-jer Jackson. They went for a two-point conversion, but Harper's pass fell short. Edward' -yard touchdown toss to Jerminic Smith put the Fighters back in the lead with just under three minutes remaining. Bryce Crawford added a deuce on the ensuing kickoff to give Frisco a five-point advantage. Harper called his own number on the last play from scrimmage of the half, scoring on a two-yard run up the middle. They attempted the two-point conversion, but Harper's run up the middle was short. Bay Area led 31-30 at the half.
Bay Area took an eight-point lead on the opening drive of the second half when Harper found Cutrell Haywood around the right side on fourth down. Bowers picked off Edwards to give the ball back to the Panthers. However, on their next play, Rankin fumbled while tackled against the right side dasher board and was recovered by Frisco's Kordell Jackson. Bay Area reviewed the play as Rankin seemed to be down, but the play stood and the Fighters were back in business. The Panthers held a 38-30 lead heading into the final quarter.
The Fighters had the ball at the Bay Area three-yard line to open the quarter. Edwards' bootleg around the right side for a three-yard score. They tied the contest at 38 apiece on his two-point conversion pass to Jordan Jolly. Harper's long bomb was intercepted by Frisco's Jackson giving the ball back to the Fighters at their own one. After converting on fourth down from that spot, Martez Carter rushed up the middle for 22 yards to put the Fighters up 45-38 with 4:17 remaining. Crawford's deuce attempt failed, giving the Panthers the ball at midfield. The Panthers turned over the ball on downs and the Fighters were able to run out the clock.
Edwards completed 17 of 27 passes for 136 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed for a touchdown. Carter gained 51 yards off 11 carries with two touchdowns, and Smith had 10 receptions for 95 yards and a score. Jackson led the defense with five tackles and an interception.
It was unknown why Sneed sat out. He appeared for the coin flip and held for an extra point during the game, but it was speculated that he had some sort of illness. in his place, Harper went 10 of 19 for 95 yards with four touchdowns and a pick. He also rushed for a touchdown. Former Fighter Justin Rankin rushed nine times for 43 yards. Stokes had 55 yards off five receptions and a pair of touchdowns. The defense was led by the nine tackles each from Marques Bridges and Antwon Kincaid. Bowers had a fumble return for touchdown and interception for the Panthers.
Frisco had an advantage in total yards, 197 yards to 158. With the rushing game essentially even, the difference came in the passing yards, 136 yards to 95. The Fighters were penalized eight times for 46 yards and the Panthers were flagged seven times for 71 yards.
The Fighters will host the Sioux Falls Storm on July 1 with kickoff scheduled for 5:05 p.m. The Panthers are on a bye next week, but return for a special edition of IFL Monday night football on July 10 at home when they host the San Diego Strike Force with kickoff set for 7:05 p.m. Times listed are pacific daylight time. Click for our complete 2023 IFL Schedule.
6/24/23 --
FRISCO, TX - Second half defense was the name of the game as the Frisco Fighters held the Bay Area Panthers to just seven points in the second half en route to a 45-38 win tonight over the visiting Panthers at the Comercia Center.
With the win, the Fighters move to a league-best 11-2 and remain in first place in the Eastern Conference. It also ensures they will host a first-round playoff game. They are 1.5 games ahead of second-place Massachusetts Pirates in the conference standings, so it will take at least another week or two before the top seed is officially determined.
Bay Area, which was tied with the Arizona Rattlers atop the Western Conference, fell to 8-5 on the season and await the result of the Rattler's game tonight against the San Diego Strike Force. That game was in progress at the time of this writing. The Panthers won the first meeting between the teams, 62-55, at San Jose, California. The overall series between the Panthers and Fighters is tied 1-1 with both teams wining once at home.
Panthers linebacker Wes Bowers recovered a T.J. Edwards fumble and returned it 10 yards to for a Bay Area touchdown on Frisco's opening drive. The Fighters answered instantly as Charles Headon took the ensuing kickoff 58 yards to even up the game with 11:21 remaining in the opening quarter. Felix Harper, getting the start for Dalton Sneed, hit JT Stokes in the right side of the end zone to give the Panthers a 13-7 lead midway through the quarter. The Fighters took their first lead of the game on Martez Carter's three-yard scoring run up the middle. Harper found Stokes over the middle for another Bay Area score; this of 22 yards. The Panthers led 19-14 at the end of one.
Frisco took a two-point lead six minutes into the second quarter when Edwards found Jordan Jolly for a two-yard touchdown around the right side. The Panthers scored immediately on Harper's 11-yard strike across the middle to Nih-jer Jackson. They went for a two-point conversion, but Harper's pass fell short. Edward' -yard touchdown toss to Jerminic Smith put the Fighters back in the lead with just under three minutes remaining. Bryce Crawford added a deuce on the ensuing kickoff to give Frisco a five-point advantage. Harper called his own number on the last play from scrimmage of the half, scoring on a two-yard run up the middle. They attempted the two-point conversion, but Harper's run up the middle was short. Bay Area led 31-30 at the half.
Bay Area took an eight-point lead on the opening drive of the second half when Harper found Cutrell Haywood around the right side on fourth down. Bowers picked off Edwards to give the ball back to the Panthers. However, on their next play, Rankin fumbled while tackled against the right side dasher board and was recovered by Frisco's Kordell Jackson. Bay Area reviewed the play as Rankin seemed to be down, but the play stood and the Fighters were back in business. The Panthers held a 38-30 lead heading into the final quarter.
The Fighters had the ball at the Bay Area three-yard line to open the quarter. Edwards' bootleg around the right side for a three-yard score. They tied the contest at 38 apiece on his two-point conversion pass to Jordan Jolly. Harper's long bomb was intercepted by Frisco's Jackson giving the ball back to the Fighters at their own one. After converting on fourth down from that spot, Martez Carter rushed up the middle for 22 yards to put the Fighters up 45-38 with 4:17 remaining. Crawford's deuce attempt failed, giving the Panthers the ball at midfield. The Panthers turned over the ball on downs and the Fighters were able to run out the clock.
Edwards completed 17 of 27 passes for 136 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed for a touchdown. Carter gained 51 yards off 11 carries with two touchdowns, and Smith had 10 receptions for 95 yards and a score. Jackson led the defense with five tackles and an interception.
It was unknown why Sneed sat out. He appeared for the coin flip and held for an extra point during the game, but it was speculated that he had some sort of illness. in his place, Harper went 10 of 19 for 95 yards with four touchdowns and a pick. He also rushed for a touchdown. Former Fighter Justin Rankin rushed nine times for 43 yards. Stokes had 55 yards off five receptions and a pair of touchdowns. The defense was led by the nine tackles each from Marques Bridges and Antwon Kincaid. Bowers had a fumble return for touchdown and interception for the Panthers.
Frisco had an advantage in total yards, 197 yards to 158. With the rushing game essentially even, the difference came in the passing yards, 136 yards to 95. The Fighters were penalized eight times for 46 yards and the Panthers were flagged seven times for 71 yards.
The Fighters will host the Sioux Falls Storm on July 1 with kickoff scheduled for 5:05 p.m. The Panthers are on a bye next week, but return for a special edition of IFL Monday night football on July 10 at home when they host the San Diego Strike Force with kickoff set for 7:05 p.m. Times listed are pacific daylight time. Click for our complete 2023 IFL Schedule.
Both games, as well as all IFL games this season, will be streamed live on the IFL's Official YouTube Channel. SCtoC will present previews of those, and all, games this season. Those previews will be posted on the board of the home team in each game.
- MMM
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